Handbook on the Legal Rights and Responsibilities of School Personnel and Students in the Areas of Moral and Civic Education and Teaching About Religion.

California State Board of Education, Sacramento.

This handbook, developed by the California Moral Guidelines Implementation Committee, provides a structure of legal rights and responsibilities for school personnel and students in moral and civic education and teaching about religion. These guidelines were adopted by the California State Board of Education in 1973. Section 1 presents the legal and educational responsibilities of school personnel in teaching about moral values and public education which include responsibilities on teaching about morality, truth, justice, patriotism, self-esteem, integrity, empathy, moral interaction, and recognition of values. Section 2 includes the California Administrative Code on professional teacher and student conduct and the educational role of the school in promoting the knowledge of constitutional government and democracy. Section 3 provides the Supreme Court and California decisions on teaching religion in public schools. The distinction is made between teaching about and practicing religion in the classroom. Appropriate subject matter and teaching guidelines for teaching about religion are included. (DE)